Bani Thani was a singer and poet in Kishangarh in the time of Raja Sawant Singh (1748–1764), whose mistress she became. After he abdicated the throne the couple retired to a comfortable life in Vrindavan, a place associated with the life of Krishna and Radha, to whom Sawant Singh was greatly devoted. A group of Indian paintings of around 1750 attributed to Nihâl Chand from the Marwar school of Kishangarh show Radha Krishna, using the same models, who are assumed to be Sawant Singh and Bani Thani.[1]
Bani Thani is depicted with elegant and graceful features, rather stylized, including arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin.[2] One painting of her was featured in an Indian stamp issued on 5 May 1973.[3]
Bani Thani was believed to be the mistress of King Sawant Singh, and later became one of his wives. Her birth name was Vishnupriya.[4] She was a singer employed by his stepmother and he was drawn to her because of her beauty and singing. She came to be known as 'Bani Thani', which means "the decked out lady", because of the exquisite jewellery and makeup that she used to adorn herself with after becoming queen. He also wrote poetry for her under the pen name of Nagari Das. Their love bloomed due to a shared interest in singing, poetry and devotion for Krishna. She also wrote poetry under the pen name of Mrs.Rasikbihari. Later, he commissioned his artists to depict their relationship in a way similar to the love between Radha and Krishna. Both lovers died in the 1760s. They have twin chhatris dedicated to them near the Nagari Kunj temple.
Style and themeedit
The Kishangarh school of art is notable for its elongated style, with "arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin" a highly idealized facial form reminiscent of Indian sculpture art. [5] Kishangarh was influenced by Būndi painting in its use of lush vegetation, dramatic night skies, vivid movement and Mughal painting in its use of side-profile portraits, though it can be distinguished from both of them due to its extremely meticulous details, rich colours and fine technique.[6][7] The patron-king Savant Singh was a member of the Vallabhācārya sect devoted to Krishna, due to which religiously themed paintings flourished in the court under his patronage. The paintings of Kishangarh school are characterised by a religious fervour and this might have been the reason why the portraiture of the queen was compared to, and is believed to have been inspired by, the figure of Radha.[8]
The Sringara-rasa Nayikaedit
Within the Ashta Nayika classification system of heroines, the Bani Thani is identified as the Vasakasajja Nayika type, with the element of Sringara rasa (romantic love) predominating. Hence, the painting conveys the passionate and romantic elements of the legend. She has been portrayed with all the elements of Sringara and exaggerated facial features which are unrealistic but striking. This style of portraiture later became the standard of beauty in all the later paintings of the Kishangarh school.
Imagesedit
Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha, ca. 1760.
Radha and Krishna in the boat of love
Krishna and Radha, Opaque watercolor and gold on cotton, ca 1750.
Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis, 1750–60, Boston MFA
^Sodhi, Jiwan (1999). "Kishangarh". A Study of Bundi School of Painting. Abhinav. pp. 25–26. ISBN81-7017-347-7.
^"'Bani Thani': The Indian Mona Lisa". Mintage World. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^"BANI THANI". www.speakingtree.in. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^A Study of Bundi School of Painting By Jiwan Sodhi, page 146
^A Study of Bundi School of Painting By Jiwan Sodhi, page 147
^"South Asian arts - Visual arts of India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon)". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^"Kishangarh painting | Indian art". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
Referencesedit
Harle, J.C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art, ISBN0300062176
Kossak, Steven (1997). Indian court painting, 16th-19th century. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN0870997831.
External linksedit
Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha Strolling in a Palace Garden
April 12, 2024
bani, thani, singer, poet, kishangarh, time, raja, sawant, singh, 1748, 1764, whose, mistress, became, after, abdicated, throne, couple, retired, comfortable, life, vrindavan, place, associated, with, life, krishna, radha, whom, sawant, singh, greatly, devoted. Bani Thani was a singer and poet in Kishangarh in the time of Raja Sawant Singh 1748 1764 whose mistress she became After he abdicated the throne the couple retired to a comfortable life in Vrindavan a place associated with the life of Krishna and Radha to whom Sawant Singh was greatly devoted A group of Indian paintings of around 1750 attributed to Nihal Chand from the Marwar school of Kishangarh show Radha Krishna using the same models who are assumed to be Sawant Singh and Bani Thani 1 Bani Thani Kishangarh miniature from c 1750 at the National Museum New Delhi Bani Thani is depicted with elegant and graceful features rather stylized including arched eyebrows lotus like elongated eyes and pointed chin 2 One painting of her was featured in an Indian stamp issued on 5 May 1973 3 Contents 1 Biography 2 Style and theme 3 The Sringara rasa Nayika 4 Images 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBiography editBani Thani was believed to be the mistress of King Sawant Singh and later became one of his wives Her birth name was Vishnupriya 4 She was a singer employed by his stepmother and he was drawn to her because of her beauty and singing She came to be known as Bani Thani which means the decked out lady because of the exquisite jewellery and makeup that she used to adorn herself with after becoming queen He also wrote poetry for her under the pen name of Nagari Das Their love bloomed due to a shared interest in singing poetry and devotion for Krishna She also wrote poetry under the pen name of Mrs Rasikbihari Later he commissioned his artists to depict their relationship in a way similar to the love between Radha and Krishna Both lovers died in the 1760s They have twin chhatris dedicated to them near the Nagari Kunj temple Style and theme editThe Kishangarh school of art is notable for its elongated style with arched eyebrows lotus like elongated eyes and pointed chin a highly idealized facial form reminiscent of Indian sculpture art 5 Kishangarh was influenced by Bundi painting in its use of lush vegetation dramatic night skies vivid movement and Mughal painting in its use of side profile portraits though it can be distinguished from both of them due to its extremely meticulous details rich colours and fine technique 6 7 The patron king Savant Singh was a member of the Vallabhacarya sect devoted to Krishna due to which religiously themed paintings flourished in the court under his patronage The paintings of Kishangarh school are characterised by a religious fervour and this might have been the reason why the portraiture of the queen was compared to and is believed to have been inspired by the figure of Radha 8 The Sringara rasa Nayika editWithin the Ashta Nayika classification system of heroines the Bani Thani is identified as the Vasakasajja Nayika type with the element of Sringara rasa romantic love predominating Hence the painting conveys the passionate and romantic elements of the legend She has been portrayed with all the elements of Sringara and exaggerated facial features which are unrealistic but striking This style of portraiture later became the standard of beauty in all the later paintings of the Kishangarh school Images edit nbsp Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha ca 1760 nbsp Radha and Krishna in the boat of love nbsp Krishna and Radha Opaque watercolor and gold on cotton ca 1750 nbsp Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis 1750 60 Boston MFA nbsp Krishna and Radha in a pavilionNotes edit Harle 395 Kossak 21 Bani Thani britannica com bbc co uk Sodhi Jiwan 1999 Kishangarh A Study of Bundi School of Painting Abhinav pp 25 26 ISBN 81 7017 347 7 Bani Thani The Indian Mona Lisa Mintage World Retrieved 18 April 2017 BANI THANI www speakingtree in Retrieved 18 April 2017 A Study of Bundi School of Painting By Jiwan Sodhi page 146 A Study of Bundi School of Painting By Jiwan Sodhi page 147 South Asian arts Visual arts of India and Sri Lanka Ceylon Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 18 April 2017 Kishangarh painting Indian art Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 18 April 2017 References editHarle J C The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent 2nd edn 1994 Yale University Press Pelican History of Art ISBN 0300062176 Kossak Steven 1997 Indian court painting 16th 19th century New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art ISBN 0870997831 External links editRajasthan Miniature Painting Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha Strolling in a Palace Garden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bani Thani amp oldid 1209206793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
